Wayne Rooney is set for a spell on the sidelines at Manchester United after suffering a knee ligament injury that is expected to keep him out of action for at least six weeks.
The United captain has been in fine form in 2016 with seven goals in nine appearances in all competitions and his absence
will hit a United strikeforce struggling to fire regularly.
Rooney did not travel with Louis van Gaal's squad for their Europa League clash with Midtjylland on Thursday and it has been reported that the injury could keep him out of action until April.
Van Gaal confirmed his injury at his pre-match news conference but was unable to provide a timescale on the 30-year-old's absence.
"It's difficult to say but he's injured in the game versus Sunderland and has a knee problem," said Van Gaal. "We have to wait and see how long that takes. I cannot say.
"Certainly in 2016, he has scored and that's why we had a good run in matches until Sunderland. But we have to cope with that. Everybody can be injured and also the captain can be injured."
Not only does his absence hit United's push for a top-four place in the Premier League, but is also a worry for England coach Roy Hodgson with Euro 2016 only four months away.
Van Gaal is confident that United have enough strength-in-depth to be able to cope without their captain in the coming weeks.
"I don't think that [a lack of strikers] is the case because in [Anthony] Martial we have another striker," the Dutchman said. "He has played several matches in this role.
"I knew in advance that our captain would play a lot of matches.
"Will Keane has come back and has done well in the second team but that is at a lower level.
"[Will James Wilson come back?] No. We can always call him back, but at this moment we have possibilities with Martial and Keane, and also Memphis Depay."
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